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How this outback neighborhood is maintaining the legacy of the Afghan cameleers alive

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It has been some time since Ammin Nullah ‘Bobby’ Shamroze wore the standard darkish grey turban and gold embroidered jacket typical of Australian Afghan camels.

These garments honor his legacy as a direct descendant of the forge males who lived within the desert on camel trains and are an indicator of his legacy.

From the 1860s to the Nineteen Thirties, camel trains performed an necessary function in transporting wool by way of distant elements of the nation.

Though they have been identified to be Afghans, the camels have been principally Muslim males from what’s now northern India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Image of a man wearing a black gray turban with glasses
Bobby Shamroze says it is necessary to protect and share the camel’s historical past.(ABC Damaged Hill: Invoice Ormonde)

Over the weekend, Mr Shamroze gathered with Damaged Hill locals on the city’s church and heritage museum to pay tribute to the tireless work of males who face harsh working circumstances. each from the desert setting and the individuals who attempt to exploit them.

Historian, Pamela Rajkowski OAM has studied and labored with descendants for many years on the historical past of male Afghan camels.

“The camels do not have an alliance, they’re forbidden to affix a union,” she mentioned.

“So sooner or later they only needed to place out an inventory of their delivery charges so individuals perceive what their charges are so they do not get taken benefit of or vandalized.

“They actually should battle for what they did.”

List of words and numbers for freight details
A listing of delivery expenses was among the many items given to the Damaged Hill Afghanistan Mosque.(ABC Damaged Hill: Invoice Ormonde)

Add to the historical past of the camels

The occasion coincided with the one hundredth anniversary of the demise of Khan Bahader, one of many main camel riders within the area.

New objects have been donated to the mosque, together with an previous saddle in reminiscence of one of many final camels to depart from Damaged Hill – Don Aziz, his cousin Shamroze – who handed away nearly two months in the past.

Ms Rajkowski traveled from Adelaide to Damaged Hill to donate a historic article detailing Mr Bahader’s demise, in addition to an inventory of printed delivery expenses.

“It means rather a lot to me. [cameleers are] Now it is beginning to get extra recognition, and I wish to inform individuals about what the camel riders did,” Shamroze mentioned.

He mentioned that over the previous 40 years he has been enthusiastic about studying the historical past of his father, grandfather and different relations.

An old saddle with two humps.
An previous saddle was donated by the household to the Damaged Hill Afghanistan Mosque.(ABC Damaged Hill: Invoice Ormonde)

Name for nationwide stamps

Ms. Rajkowski is now calling on officers to create a stamp highlighting the camel individuals’s contribution.

“Wool carriers deliver wool again to port, again to rail yards after which to ports throughout South Australia, by way of New South Wales, by way of Queensland and the Northern Territory and Western Australia,” she mentioned.

“For a stamp to be delivered nationwide could be a easy visualization with a message reminding individuals throughout the nation, [that] camels have served this nation and they’re much wanted. “

A staring woman with blonde hair wearing black
Pamela Rajkowski is asking for an official stamp to acknowledge camels in Afghanistan.(ABC Damaged Hill: Invoice Ormonde)

She mentioned a stamp would remind individuals within the nation in addition to guests of “a singular piece of Australia’s historical past”.

“They’ve labored very onerous, have households, communities, non secular facilities that serve their psychological and bodily well being,” Ms. Rajkowski mentioned.

Extra youth and native participation

A man standing and looking at the camera inside the mosque
Bobby Shamroze says he needs to see extra locals be part of the mosque. (ABC Damaged Hill: Youssef Saudie)

Mr. Shamroze says it is necessary to him to share historical past locally.

“Seeing I am the one one left now out of the household, I feel I wish to get as a lot finished as I can earlier than I give delivery,” he mentioned.

“I am not a spring rooster. I am aiming for quantity 83 so the extra work I can get finished, the extra I can protect the mosque, the higher.”

He hopes to have interaction the neighborhood additional to assist them perceive extra about camels in Afghanistan, particularly younger individuals.

“That is for all youngsters and college students,” he mentioned.

“It will likely be good for youngsters to study it, and adults [too] in order that they’ll understand how onerous they have been prior to now. “

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